2012-2013

News Release

REF NO.: 49

SUBJECT: Harris Centre brings Memorial to the Schooner Zone

DATE: November 23, 2012

The Harris Centre at Memorial University is preparing for a trip to Marystown. It is bringing Memorial students, staff and faculty to meet with local people to discuss the challenges and opportunities facing the Schooner Zone. The ultimate goal is to create partnerships that lead to further research and work on the ideas generated at the session.
The visit will be focused around two events: a collaborative regional workshop on Wednesday, Nov. 28, from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Marystown Hotel, and a lunch time Memorial Presents Public Forum from 11:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. the same day.
The regional workshop has been organized in collaboration with regional partners representing various organizations within the Schooner Zone. As part of the planning process, the Harris Centre consulted with the organizations to determine specific areas of regional interest for the workshop. The topics that were identified are: business and labor market development; tourism; volunteerism; and health and wellness.
The morning part of the session will be dedicated to sharing the research that Memorial is currently doing in the Schooner Zone and what supports the university has to offer the region. The afternoon session will be a chance to delve deeper into the three topics selected by the organizing group. Participants will break into three groups to discuss challenges and suggest possible areas for further research, teaching and engagement. It is an opportunity for the members of the region to help shape the work that happens at Memorial, so all are encouraged to share their input and ideas.
The workshop will also include a lunch time Memorial Presents Public Forum on Regional Development without Zone Boards, presented by Ryan Gibson, Department of Geography, Memorial University. Panelists will also include Irene Hurley, chair of the Heritage Run Tourism Association and Chair of the Burin Peninsula Arts Council, and Robert Keenan, community cooperation and development officer with Municipalities Newfoundland and Labrador.
The presentations will be followed by an open question and answer session. The event is free to the public, but registration is requested for catering purposes, as lunch is provided. This session will be webcast live. The webcast will begin at 11:45 a.m. (10:15 a.m. EST). To connect to the live webcast or to register, visit www.mun.ca/harriscentre.

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